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Actors Don Cheadle and Ewan McGregor arrived in style for filming of their first scenes of the "Miles Ahead" movie Monday, driving a green Jaguar down Seventh Street, Downtown.

Cheadle, dressed as jazz icon Miles Davis, and McGregor, playing a long-haired Rolling Stone reporter, hopped out of the car in front of the Cincinnati Bell building at 209 W. Seventh St., which was portraying CBS headquarters in New York in 1979.

"Don has a wig, but Ewan has his own long hair. He grew it out for the part," explained Dan Wagner, a Los Angeles-based producer who has been working with Cheadle on the film for two years.

Cheadle, an Oscar-nominated actor ("Hotel Rwanda"), makes his directorial debut and stars in "Miles Ahead," set in 1979 New York when the musician was ending his five-year "silent period" out of the public eye. In the script co-written by Cheadle, Davis enlists reporter Dave Brill (McGregor) to retrieve a recording stolen from the musician's home.

Filming started 20 minutes ahead of schedule Monday, Wagner said. Cheadle and the producers have been in town for almost two months. All of the one-day "day player" actors and the movie musicians were hired locally, said producer Pamela Hirsch.

"It's been great. We're thrilled. We've found everything we've needed. It's been a lot easier then we actually anticipated," Wagner said. "We're happy that we're finally kicked off and rolling."

Several dozen spectators watched filming Monday around the 10 classic cars, cabs and an old bus on Seventh Street. Many took pictures of Cheadle or McGregor, whose credits include "Star Wars," "A Million Ways to Die in the West," "Moulin Rouge" and "Trainspotting."

"I've been a big fan of Ewan McGregor since 'Trainspotting.' I could pick him out right away. Don Cheadle was a little harder to spot (dressed as Davis)," said Elizabeth Wetzel of Clifton, a City Hall worker who spent her lunch hour at the movie location.

Cincinnati Bell is a block from the old Shillito's department store entrance on Race Street, where Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara filmed a scene in April from their "Carol" feature film set in 1952 New York.

"People were really excited when it was announced that the second movie was coming," said Gina Parlato of Oakley, who works for LPK a few blocks away. She saw "Carol" film downtown, as well as George Clooney's "The Ides of March" in 2011.

"I think it's great that both ("Carol" and "Miles Ahead") aren't set in the present day, and you get to see all the old cars. It makes it much more exciting, because you get to see the movie-making process," Parlato said.

Most of the movie is set in 1979, when Davis and Brill tracked down the stolen recording, with flashbacks to Davis's affair with Frances from 1956 to 1966. Davis, a major figure in the bebop, cool jazz and jazz fusion movements, died in 1991 at age 65.

"Miles Ahead" will be filmed in about 25 locations through Aug. 15 – or longer.

"We'll shoot at least six weeks, but we have the possibility to go seven or eight weeks if we need to," Wagner said.

Area residents also may see more production trucks and stars in town.

"There's a television show in town shooting (now), and a major motion picture looking at Cincinnati," said Kristen Erwin Schlotman, executive director of the Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky Film Commission. "I think you'll see celebrity sightings on a regular basis."

Cheadle also has received good news on his Indiegogo.com campaign to raise $325,000 for the film. The crowd-funding site posted that he will "receive all funds raised, even if it does not reach its goal."

As of Monday afternoon, "Miles Ahead" had received $233,571, or 72 percent of the goal. The six-week campaign ends 11:59 p.m. PST Thursday, or 2:59 a.m. Cincinnati time Friday.

By John Kiesewetter | jkiesewetter@enquirer.com
Call them the Queen City screen gems.
When Hollywood directors shoot in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, they've found the obvious -- and obscure -- settings for their feature films.
The Roebling Suspension Bridge often makes a scene. Over-the-Rhine is the most popular destination because it can be transformed into 1919 ("Eight Men Out"), New York in 1942 ("The Public Eye") or 1956 ("A Rage in Harlem"), or the present day ("Traffic").
Production designers also like the looks of Lebanon, Melbourne and Oxford.
Here are the famous local movie locations you can visit.
John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge. (Photo: Enquirer file/Liz Dufour)

St. Anne Convent, Melbourne, Ky.
The iconic image from the Oscar-winning "Rain Man" was Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise walking down the tree-lined driveway in 1988 at the Sisters of Divine Providence's old St. Anne Convent, about 10 miles up the Ohio River from Newport. "Rain Man" won four Academy Awards, including best picture and best actor for Hoffman.
Tom Cruise, left, stars as Charlie Babbitt and Dustin Hoffman, right, stars as Raymond Babbitt in United Artists Pictures' "Rain Man." (Photo: Photo provided/MGM/UA)

Head First Sports Café, Downtown
Political campaign rivals played by Ryan Gosling and Paul Giamatti met in 2011 at the sports bar, at 218 W. Third St., in "The Ides of March."
Duffy (Paul Giamatti, right) asks Stephen (Ryan Gosling) to jump over to the Pullman campaign in "The Ides of March." (Photo: Photo provided)

Roebling Suspension Bridge
Hollywood producers love our Civil War-era landmark as much as we do. Dustin Hoffman hummed riding across the bridge with Tom Cruise in "Rain Man" in 1988. Knights charged across the span in "The Mighty" in 1997, and Ryan Gosling sped across it in "The Ides of March" in 2011.
The bridge in the Sharon Stone film, "The Mighty." (Photo: Enquirer file/Glenn Hartong)

Village Ice Cream Parlor, Lebanon
The ice cream shop at 22 S. Broadway has appeared twice in movies ? for Barbara Eden's "Harper Valley PTA" in 1977 and "Milk Money" in 1993.
The sodas prepared at Lebanon's Village Ice Cream parlor were for the filming of "Harper Valley PTA" in 1977. (Photo: Enquirer file)

Great American Ball Park
In "Mr. 3000," Bernie Mac starred as a former Milwaukee Brewers player preparing for a comeback to get his 3,000th hit. A brief scene was filmed here when the Brewers played in 2003 at then-new Great American Ball Park.
Stan Ross (Bernie Mac, center) swings back into action with the support of his team conditioning coach (Scott Brooks, left) and best buddy, Boca (Michael Rispoli, right). (Photo: Photo provided)

Smitty's Men's and Boy's Wear, Over-the-Rhine
When "Milk Money" preteens wanted to see a naked woman in 1993, they headed to this adult store created from Smitty's, 1425 Vine St. The original store was seen in "City of Hope" starring Vincent Spano and Tony Lo Bianco in 1990.
A set for "Milk Money" is painted along the west side of Vine Street. (Photo: Enquirer file/Glenn Hartong)

Main Street, Downtown
A scene for Michael Douglas' Oscar-winning "Traffic" was shot at 615 Main St., near the Player Piano Shop, in 2000.
Main Street also appeared in "Eight Men Out," "The Public Eye," "City of Hope," "A Rage in Harlem" and "Little Man Tate." (Photo: Enquirer file)

Arnold's Bar & Grill, Downtown
Before NBC's "Harry's Law" discovered the city's oldest tavern at 210 E. Eighth St., it doubled in 1990 as Delillio's restaurant in "City of Hope," where a councilman (Joe Morton, right) was pressured by the mayor (Louis Zorich).
Mayor Baci (Louis Zorich) enlightens an antagonistic Councilman Wynn (Joe Morton) by pointing out on which side his bread is buttered in John Sayles' "City of Hope." (Photo: Enquirer file)

Japp's, Over-the-Rhine Japp's wig shop on Main Street at 12th Street in 1991 was transformed into a 1942 New York City drug store for "The Public Eye" starring Joe Pesci and Barbara Hershey.
Japp's on Main Street. (Photo: Enquirer file/David Sorcher)

Fourth Street, Downtown
Ryan Gosling hustled down Fourth Street to withdraw money from the Stock Yards Bank & Trust, at 101 W. Fourth St., in 2011 in "The Ides of March."
Director George Clooney gave Cincinnati a major supporting role with scenes shot throughout the area.
Stephen (Ryan Gosling) gets a phone call for a secret meeting in "The Ides of March." (Photo: Photo provided)

Pompilio's, Newport Fans of the 1988 Oscar-winning "Rain Man" still visit Pompilio's restaurant, 600 Washington St., to see where Hoffman's autistic Raymond Babbitt counted toothpicks on the floor. It was redecorated for a teen hangout in "Airborne" in 1993.
A sign welcoming the cast and crew of Rain Man still hangs on the walls of Pompilio's Resturant in Newport. (Photo: Enquirer file/Cara Owsley)

14th Street, Over-the-Rhine
Director John Sayles filmed boys playing baseball in an empty lot on 14th Street near Main Street in 1987 for "Eight Men Out," about the Chicago White Sox throwing the 1919 World Series to the Reds. Most non-baseball scenes were filmed here.
1988: Director John Sayles with Bucky (Tay Strathairn) on location for "Eight Men Out." (Photo: Enquirer file)

Over-the-Rhine
Gregory Hines in 1990 walked down 12th Street for "A Rage in Harlem" scene set in 1956 New York. Over-the-Rhine streets and stores were backdrops for "Eight Men Out," "Little Man Tate," "City of Hope," "The Public Eye," "Milk Money," "The Mighty" and "Traffic."
Gregory HInes walks towards the set of "A Rage in Harlem" being filmed on 12th Street in 1990. (Photo: Enquirer file/Gary Landers)

Western Hills High School
West High appeared as Central High in "Airborne," a teen action-comedy about rollerbladers (Shane McDermott, Seth Green) which filmed there five days in 1993. Skating stunts were shot on a half-pipe built under I-75 next to the B&O warehouse.
Western Hills High School. (Photo: Enquirer file)

Mulberry Street, Lebanon
Nicollette Sheridan and director Jack Angelo spent most of October 2013 on Mulberry Street in downtown Lebanon -- including pushing a car stuck in fake snow -- for the Hallmark Channel's "The Christmas Spirit."
Actress Nicollete Sheridan walks down Mulberry Street in Lebanon with director Jack Angelo during the filming of the movie "The Christmas Spirit" in Lebanon. (Photo: Enquirer file/Leigh Taylor)

Hall Auditorium, Oxford
George Clooney headed to Miami University's Hall Auditorium in 2011 to film an Ohio primary debate for the opening of "The Ides of March."
George Clooney leaves Holy Trinity Episcopal Church on East Walnut Street in Oxford after having lunch during filming. (Photo: Enquirer file/Cara Owsley)

Berry Middle School, Lebanon
Barbara Eden starred in "Harper Valley PTA," a 1977 comedy based on a country song, filmed at Berry Middle School and many Lebanon locations. Nicollette Sheridan's "The Christmas Spirit" also filmed at the school in 2013.
1978: Barbara Eden in a scene from "Harper valley P.T.A." (Photo: Enquirer file)

Smitty's Men's & Boy's Wear, Over-the-Rhine
The original store at 1425 Vine St. appeared in the background of "City of Hope" in 1990, an urban corruption drama with (from left) Jace Alexander, Todd Graff and Vincent Spano, three years before "Milk Money" filmed there.
1991: Bobby (Jace Alexander) and Zip (Todd Graff) try to convince Nick (Vincent Spano) that the answer to his problems is to join them on a robbery in John Sayles' "City of Hope." (Photo: Photo provided)

Half Pipe Under I-75 Here are movie scenes filmed on temporary sets built for the films, or in buildings since demolished:
"Airborne" inline skating stunts were filmed on a half-pipe built under the I-75 Brent Spence Bridge near the B&O warehouse in 1993 for the action-comedy starring Shane McDermott and Seth Green.
John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge. (Photo: Enquirer file/Joseph Fuqua II)

Ludlow candy shop
The Kurnitz Kandy Store in Neil Simon's "Lost In Yonkers," where Bella (Mercedes Ruehl) spent a summer with her two nephews, was built in 1992 on an empty lot at Elm and Kenner streets in Ludlow. 1993: Aunt Bella (Mercedes Ruehl) offers a sweet temptation to her two young nephews in "Neil Simon's Lost in Yonkers." (Photo: Enquirer file)